00:00When a legend calls in, you take the call.
00:03D Fish, would you like to introduce our lovely phone guest?
00:08I mean, he needs no introduction, but once you hear the sultry voice
00:12and we start having this conversation, you will know who this man is.
00:18You're talking about big time, big names, big game.
00:24Ha!
00:28Yes, indeedy.
00:30Mr. Worthy.
00:31Talk to us.
00:32Welcome to the show, James Worthy.
00:35Hey, man.
00:38Congratulations, Derek, man, on this new beginning.
00:42Appreciate you, big game.
00:43Appreciate you, man.
00:44You know, nobody deserves it, and really, nobody really can do the job.
00:51Multi-talented.
00:53And it's just great to see you continue to progress, man.
00:57It's going to be another great venture for you, my man.
01:01No, I appreciate it, big game.
01:02Thank you, man.
01:03I started at Spectrum, I think, 2018, and I hadn't really spent a lot of time around big game.
01:09Like, obviously, tremendous amount of respect, the career, Laker legend.
01:15Like, obviously, I know who he is, but we had never really spent a lot of time around each other.
01:21And so, the last eight years, man, getting to know this man and just be around him, and the Knights
01:26were in the studio, and we've gotten a chance to golf a little bit, which Cody and I were talking
01:31about.
01:31We're going to hit you up, big game.
01:33We're going to get out of the mountain game.
01:34He hasn't ready to see this drive yet.
01:36But, yeah, James has been so great to me.
01:39Like, I knew nothing about the broadcast space and being a former player that could lean into using your voice
01:47and, you know, and sharing with the fans and just, you know, being yourself.
01:51And James shows up as himself every day.
01:55And so, big game, I appreciate you, man, letting me go for a ride the last seven, eight years, and
02:00now I'm tapping into some other things.
02:02And you made it look easy, man.
02:04I appreciate you, big game.
02:06Well, man, the feeling is mutual, man.
02:09You made our workspace a great addition.
02:12So, here we go with 97.1 Radio.
02:16Let's do it.
02:16Oh, let's go.
02:18James Worthy calling into 97.1 The Fed.
02:21Hey, big game, James, I got a question for you.
02:23I've always wanted to ask you this because it now seems that anyone named James in sports somehow gets the
02:29name, if not given to themselves, big game James.
02:33Do you take umbrage to any time somebody calls themselves big game James?
02:37Because in my book, there's only one, and that's you.
02:40Nah, I don't, you know.
02:43It's an honor, you know.
02:45It always brings a little bit of tension back to me, you know what I mean?
02:49I might be able to grab a few speaking engagements on people just remembering big game James.
02:56No, I think it's an honor sometimes if somebody's name is James and they refer to it.
03:01It was Chick Hearn who really gave me that name.
03:05It was born, I think, in 1985 during the playoffs.
03:09Chick Hearn said, I always increase my performance.
03:13And he came up with that, and man, it has stayed for a long time.
03:19So, no, I don't get too bad.
03:22Big game, we're going to keep this quick, man.
03:24I know you got some golf to play this morning, man.
03:26But a quick question about this Western Conference Finals matchup kicking off tonight.
03:32We obviously, you know, wish the Lakers were still playing.
03:36But, you know, tonight NBA fans will get a treat with the Spurs and Thunder kicking off.
03:41And, you know, what do you think about this series, man?
03:44We talked about it a little earlier.
03:46I think the Spurs might get one tonight, but I think the Thunder will still win the series.
03:51What are your thoughts?
03:53Yeah, you can't take San Antonio for granted.
03:58They are in the midst of baking what Oklahoma has right now.
04:05They're still young with Wimby and some of the other cast that they have.
04:09Whereas Oklahoma, you know, they remind me of, you know, you guys with Kobe and Shaq and, you know,
04:17the three-peat and the synergy that you guys had and, you know, the fact that you defended
04:23and you monitored one another was much respect.
04:28And when that comes onto the basketball court, you know, you're almost unbeatable.
04:32But I would not take San Antonio for granted.
04:35You know, they've proven that they can, you know, they can play.
04:38But to me, Oklahoma reminds me of one of those powerhouses from, you know, from the 80s, 90s, you know,
04:482000s
04:49when you guys were doing it.
04:51They just have it on both ends of the court.
04:54They have it every night.
04:56They have it every quarter.
04:57You might threaten them with, you know, a little flurry.
05:02But they seem to have really 12, 13 guys deep that can punish you at any time.
05:11We're talking with James Worthy here on 97.1 The Fan Los Angeles.
05:16Derek and Decker with you.
05:17James, question for you.
05:18Just simply, I know it's going to be that question that's going to be asked nonstop.
05:22And, of course, it's the LeBron James of it all.
05:25And in a different way of looking at it, rather than asking you, where is he going?
05:29Do you think that the best decision would be for not just him, but for the Lakers themselves,
05:34a reuniting of this couple?
05:39Reuniting of the couple of...
05:41Of LeBron and the Lakers.
05:43Yeah, I mean, you know, it's a tough question and even a tougher answer.
05:52I do know that before LeBron came here, I remember we were experiencing, you know, not making the playoffs.
06:01It wasn't consistent to what the Laker history has been.
06:05When he came here, things started to change a little bit.
06:08We were able to win a little bit.
06:09So, the last eight years, I think he's found a home.
06:12This is just me personally.
06:13I think he's found a home in Los Angeles.
06:16His family loves it.
06:18If the circumstances are right, meaning if there's a price that, you know, he would play for,
06:27a role that he would take, if the Lakers are able to, you know, get the players that they want,
06:34Austin Reeves in particular, or maybe even seek out in the trade world, I think it would work.
06:41But, it's just hard to say.
06:44I think he would like to finish his career.
06:46And I think the way he performed at a 41-year-old man, if he can continue that with a,
06:55throw up a lesser role, because we do know that it's Lucas' team to run.
07:00So, it's just a quick take on the situation before anything happens.
07:07Big game.
07:08Quick question, man.
07:10You watched the PGA Championship over the weekend.
07:12Aaron Rye got to the top of the mountain, man, which that course looked, it was windy out there, too.
07:18It looked difficult.
07:20Yeah.
07:21He wears two gloves.
07:23Wild.
07:24I know that.
07:25And he uses iron covers on his clubs, which they make them, obviously.
07:30But, like, are you an iron cover guy?
07:32I know you're not, you don't have two gloves, but, like, iron covers?
07:38Question mark.
07:39I heard iron covers were one of the corniest things you can have on your back.
07:43Thank you!
07:44That's why he's big game James!
07:46That's why he's big game James!
07:49Thank you, Mr. Worthy!
07:52I mean, I mean, I mean, I know, I mean, he wears two gloves.
07:57I don't know, it's like people who putt with a glove on.
08:00It's like, take that glove off.
08:02It's a real deal.
08:05No doubt.
08:07But, yeah, that's, but you know what, man?
08:10When you can back it up, man, you can put whatever you want on it.
08:15Exactly.
08:16I guarantee you, I guarantee you that iron covers are going to become popular this week.
08:22Watch.
08:23People are going to go out and get some.
08:24Oh, God, I hope not.
08:25God, I hope not.
08:27James Worthy, I cannot thank you.
08:29You're the first actual person to call into this show, and what an absolute honor to have
08:36big game James being the first call.
08:38Yes, indeed, man.
08:39The honor is mine, and continued success.
08:43Thank you, sir.
08:43Thank you, sir.
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